The crucial role of the heart

Prophet Muhammad informed us in a very famous narration, commonly
quoted with reference to lawful and unlawful, about the important role
of the heart. He said: "Both lawful and unlawful matters are evident
but in between them there are doubtful(suspicious) things and many
people have no knowledge aboutthem. So whoever saves himself from
these suspicious matters (by staying away from them) saves his
religion and his honor. And whoever indulges in these suspicious
matters (will eventually) indulge in what is forbidden. This is like
(the example of) a shepherd who grazes (his animals) near the Hima
(private pasture) of someone else and at any moment he is liable to
get in it. (O people!) Beware! Every king has a Hima and the Hima of
Allaah on the earth is His illegal (forbidden) matters. Beware! There
is a piece of flesh in the body, if it is reformed, the whole body
becomes good, but if it getsspoilt the whole body gets spoilt;indeed
it is the heart." [Al-Bukhaari]
He said that after explaining that the lawful matters are clear and
that the forbidden ones are clear and that between them are obscure
areas, not known to many people. However, what protects a person from
the forbidden matters and ensures that he remains in the lawful ones
is knowledge; but beyond knowledge, it is the state of the heart. If
the heart is good, then itmakes use of the knowledge and it avoids
what is prohibited. If the heart is corrupted, then the knowledge is
of no benefit to it and it will indulge in what is prohibited.
The Prophet during the last (and only) pilgrimage, informed his
Companions and it was aninstruction to the entire Muslim nation to
come, that people are not favored based on their race or color, but
rather based on piety and on how much they are Allaah fearful. After
that, he clarified that the place of piety is in one's heart."
In these statements and other similar statements, we find stress being
placed on the heart -that the heart is the part of the body, which
Allaah has favored over all other parts. It is the placeof faith, and
had there been in the body another part that was nearer to Allaah,
piety would have been placed there, because faith is the most valuable
thing that a human possesses. It (faith)is the determination
ultimately ofthose who have belief in Allaah - those who have accepted
the message and who have chosen Paradise over Hell. It is the
distinction of those who have belief and those who have disbelief.
The value of faith is greater than the value of all the things of this
world. This is why Prophet Muhammad said that for Allaah to guide by
your hands a single person to Islam is worth more than anything in
this world.For you to help someone to find faith is worth more than
any of the things in this world. [Al-Bukhaari]
The heart is the place in which the correctness of deeds is judged.
The Prophet said: "Deeds are judged according to the intention." The
place of the intention is not on the lips. It is in the heart.
'Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab narrated that the Messenger of Allaah said: "The
reward of deeds depends upon the intention and every person will get
the reward according to what he has intended…" [Al-Bukhaari]
Our deeds - what we do externally - are judged ultimately by the
states of our hearts. Good deeds are in reference to those that we
perceive to be a part and parcel of righteousness. Allaah will inspect
the hearts to determine whether they are trulyacts of righteousness.
The Prophet informed us thatthe first three people who would be cast
into the Hell Fire are those who were involved in whateverybody
considers great acts ofrighteousness. They are the scholar who taught
knowledge; the wealthy person who gave from his wealth in charity and
the martyr who gave his life fighting in the path of Allaah.
The Prophet in an authentic narration, said that some people from
among these types of people would be among the first groups of people
thrown into Hell because the scholar, when hetaught the knowledge that
Allaahgave him, did not do so for the sake of Allaah. He taught so
that people would praise him, saying what a great scholar he was and
how knowledgeable he was. Allaah will Say to him: "You received your
praise, what you sought in that world. But there will be nothing for
you in the Next." So he will be drawn off on his face and thrown into
Hell.
Similarly, the benefactor, who was generous with his wealth. Hegave
and people praised his generosity, but Allaah will Say: "You did it
for the praise and you were praised. You did it for people to
appreciate you." So that individual will be drawn off on his face and
thrown into Hell. [Muslim]
The martyr - the one whom we all assumed had died in the Path of
Allaah. We would think that his place in Paradise is guaranteed. But
Allaah will Say: "You fought so people would say,'How brave this one
is! How strong and courageous he was!'" People said it; they praised
you, so he will be drawn off on his face and thrown into Hell.'
All is telling us that ultimately, even the highest of deeds can be of
no avail if the hearts are sick; ifthe hearts are corrupt. So the
place of the heart should, in our minds, occupy great attention. We
have to spend much of our time observing, being aware of the state of
our heart.
So there is no other faculty in the human body and existence that
abeliever should be more concerned about. We have to make sure that
this faculty is functioning as Allaah wishes it to function. We should
be greatly concerned about it. The Prophet often used to supplicate,
beginning with: "I seek refuge in You, O Allaah, from knowledge that
does not benefit, and from aheart which does not fear." [At-Tirmithi,
Abu Daawood, An-Nasaa'i and Ibn Maajah]

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